ZDNET Highlights
- This powerful PC is available now starting at $1230
- NX Gen3 PC was able to run gpt-oss:20b LLM without lag
- This Kubuntu-powered PC is probably more powerful than your current PC.
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Any chance I get to review a Linux-powered PC, I’m thrilled to do so. This is not only because I get to experience how a third party approaches an OS, but also because it means there are more avenues for consumers to purchase a Linux system.
If you’ve ever heard of Kubuntu, you know it’s a spin on Ubuntu that focuses on the KDE Plasma desktop – a great desktop UI. Kubuntu Focus, on the other hand, is a company dedicated to selling laptops and desktops powered by Kubuntu OS.
Too: best linux laptop
After receiving Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3Unboxing, and setting it up, I hit power and saw Kubuntu loading. Within seconds, I was welcomed with the onboarding wizard. Unlike any Windows PC I’ve reviewed, it took me less than two minutes to get the NX Gen3 up and running.
my experience
Reviewing a Linux-powered laptop or PC is always a breath of fresh air for me, because I know the OS very well (so I know exactly what to expect) and it’s almost always a positive experience from start to finish.
The NX Gen3 was no exception.
The model I got had an Intel Ultra 7 255H, Arch T140 8Xe CPU/GPU, 32GB of RAM, and Mesa Intel graphics, which costs about $1,230. You can spec the system with up to 96GB of RAM, a 4TB drive, which bumps the price up to $2,075.
There are plenty of vents to keep this PC cool.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Of course, this is KDE Plasma, so the desktop is fantastic. And yes, it defaults to a dark theme, which I quickly adapted to. As soon as I took care of that, I ran the available updates (which took all of three minutes) and set out to do the one thing I always do when testing a new PC: pushing it to its limits.
How? Nowadays, it is quite easy. I installed llama, extracted llama3.2 LLM, and ran a query. I’ve become accustomed to slow responses to Olama queries on review machines, and at first I thought the NX Gen3 would give me the same results. However, after a few seconds, Olama asked “What is Linux?” Spewed out the answer. Much faster than I thought. In fact, I’ve never seen a small form factor PC respond so quickly to a local AI query.
Impressive.
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Then I decided to download a larger llm (gpt-oss:12b, which is 65GB). Of course, the stretch took forever (due to its size, which is no reflection on the NX Gen3. Once it was done, I ran the same query (“What is Linux?”), which was significantly faster than llama3.2 LLM. While gpt-oss:20 was answering the query, I switched to using other apps and, to my surprise, by llama3.2 Hitting the CPU didn’t disrupt anything. The NX Gen3 didn’t even get a glance.
Beyond the AI portion of my testing, I kept performing actual everyday tasks (installing apps, opening and using apps, moving windows around, running upgrades, browsing… you know the drill) and I wasn’t at all surprised that the NX Gen3’s performance was absolutely fantastic. I’d put this little machine roughly on par with my System76 Thelio (which is the most powerful desktop PC I’ve ever used).
I would go so far as to say that the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is powerful enough for anything your average use requires. No, you’re not going to mine massive amounts of data or launch a ship to Mars with this computer, but for the average human, the NX Gen3 offers far better than average performance.
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Even with several KDE Plasma window effects running (such as wobbly windows), I noticed zero lag, tearing, or pixelation.
No matter what I did with the NX Gen3 PC, I came away impressed. This little machine is a powerhouse and will serve anyone well. And, yes, KDE Plasma is a desktop environment suitable for those new to Linux. So, whether you’re new to the open-source operating system or have been using it for years, you can bet that the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 PC is ready for whatever task you want to do.
I didn’t bother to run benchmarking tests on this machine because I want my reviews to be valuable to people who would actually buy such a machine to use every day. Benchmarking is great, but those numbers don’t mean much to the average user.
ZDNT buying advice
If you’re in the market to buy a new PC and you want to finally get on the Linux bandwagon, Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 Not only is it an excellent place to start, but it’s also a great place to live. This small footprint computer seriously impressed me. It’s powerful, quiet, easy to set up and great to use.
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If you’re considering the end of life of your Windows 10 PC, and are looking for something better than what’s on the shelves of big box stores on the market, go here Official Kubuntu Focus Site And buy an NX Gen3 PC. You won’t regret it.
Kubuntu Focus NX Gen3 Technical Specifications
I’ll list the basic specifications here:
- CPU/GPU – Intel Ultra 5 225H CPU/Arch T130 Xe GPU
- RAM – 16 GB
- Storage – 500 GB PCIe 4
- Disk Encryption – Optional
- Warranty – 1 Year Limited
- Shipping – 3-6 days ground free
